The time is the summer of 1958, the place is Dewmont, Texas. For blissfully ignorant thirteen-year-old Stanley Mitchell, the end of innocence comes with his discovery of an old trove of passionate yet troubled love letters that lead him to a long-ago house fire and the tragic deaths of two very different young women. Stanley finds a guide and mentor in black, elderly Buster Lighthouse Smith, a retired Indian Reservation policeman who now runs the projector at the drive-in theater owned by Stanley's parents. Buster tutors ...
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The time is the summer of 1958, the place is Dewmont, Texas. For blissfully ignorant thirteen-year-old Stanley Mitchell, the end of innocence comes with his discovery of an old trove of passionate yet troubled love letters that lead him to a long-ago house fire and the tragic deaths of two very different young women. Stanley finds a guide and mentor in black, elderly Buster Lighthouse Smith, a retired Indian Reservation policeman who now runs the projector at the drive-in theater owned by Stanley's parents. Buster tutors Stanley on the finer points of Sherlock Holmes, the blues, and life's lost dreams. But not every buried thing stays dead. And in one terrifying night of rushing creek water and thundering rain, an arcane murderous force will rise from the past to threaten the boy -- and test the limits of Buster's strength and wisdom. In the end the old man teaches Stanley a lesson that will haunt him always.
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Add this copy of A Fine Dark Line to cart. $2.64, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Wheeler Publishing.
Add this copy of A Fine Dark Line to cart. $2.99, good condition, Sold by Neil Shillington rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hobe Sound, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Wheeler Publishing.
Add this copy of A Fine Dark Line to cart. $5.00, very good condition, Sold by Books End Bookshop rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from SYRACUSE, NY, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Wheeler Publishing.
Add this copy of A Fine Dark Line to cart. $9.79, like new condition, Sold by Bookmarc's rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from La Porte, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Wheeler Publishing Company.
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Seller's Description:
As New in As New jacket. AT2-A large print edition hardcover book signed by author in as new condition in as new dust jacket. This is vintage Lansdale, graced with exquisite suspense, powerful characterizations, and the vibrant evocation of another time. 9.5"x6.5", 375 pages. Satisfaction Guaranteed.
Add this copy of A Fine Dark Line to cart. $9.79, very good condition, Sold by Bookmarc's rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from La Porte, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Wheeler Publishing Company.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very Good in Very Good jacket. AT2-A large print edition hardcover book signed by author in very good condition in very good dust jacket has light scuffing on the bottom edge of the back inside flap. This is vintage Lansdale, graced with exquisite suspense, powerful characterizations, and the vibrant evocation of another time. 9.5"x6.5", 375 pages. Satisfaction Guaranteed.
Add this copy of A Fine Dark Line to cart. $31.14, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Wheeler Publishing.
I found this to be one of the more insightful stories I've read. The period that this story was placed is a time of great changes in the U S . I felt as if I was there; almost could feel the warm Texas air. I've loaned this book to several people and always got a "wow".
pamela1717
May 24, 2009
4.25 stars! A nice surprise!
4.25 stars! A nice suprise! I really enjoyed this novel of Lansdale's (much more than The Bottoms). I found it to be a very entertaining and nostalgic coming of age/mystery story told in the folksy style of a 13 year old in the 1950s. The 1950s seem to be a great time of which to write due to it's innocence and it's conflicting darkness (in this case, racism, child abuse, spouse abuse) and this one has it all...it sounds dark, but it made me laugh on several occassions. I was sold on this story early for two reasons: first Lansdale's dedication, "In memory of Cooter. Brave, True, and Nobel Protector. Friend. Family dog." (as those who know me are aware, I'm a big believer of dogs being part of the family); and second, after reading this passage, "Like Huckleberry Finn, Richard wasn't the sort that would make a great adult, but he was one hell of a kid. He could ride a bike faster than the wind, could toss a pocketknife between his toes and not stick himself, knew the woods, could climb a tree like a gibbon, and juggle four rubber balls at a time." This is just one example of the Lansdale's simple prose you will find in this story--and the tale "ain't" bad either!
